TST NFL Fantasy Football Week 5 Waiver Wire

Good morning and welcome back, we've closed the chapter on another week of the NFL. This week's waiver wire column rundown features a handful of must-consider players, especially with injuries piling up and bye weeks are now upon us. Also since it's Week 5, it means some teams will open 21-day practice windows for players that have been on the injured reserve before Week 1. 

In no particular order, here are my top 15 waiver wire options to add for Week 5. My one rule that I have set for this is that a player must be rostered in less than 60 percent of ESPN leagues to be eligible in my column.

1. Woody Marks (HOU) - Running Back; Rostered: 33.2%: Marks, if still available, is the top player to add this week heading into Week 5. This past week, Marks set season highs in snaps (56 percent), touches (21), total yards (119) and scored twice against the Titans. He has gotten better each week and has looked like the more explosive back out of the backfield over Nick Chubb, who hasn't done anything to lose the starting job. Another positive is that Marks does well in pass protection, and Coach DeMeco Ryans said Monday that he's excited to see how much more work he can handle moving forward.    

2. Kenneth Gainwell (PIT) - Running Back; Rostered: 35.6%: Most people early Sunday morning were shocked to see Jaylen Warren on the inactive list against the Vikings. However, this opened the door for Gainwell to have a dynamic game in Ireland, rushing for 99 yards on 19 carries and scoring a pair of touchdowns. So far, he has been the RB2 in the Steelers backfield, but if Warren were to miss time again, Gainwell has now shown that he is far more than capable of handling a big workload. I should note that the Steelers have a bye this week and it should give Warren enough time to return to the lineup, but Gainwell is worth the stash. 

3. Darren Waller (MIA) - Tight End; Rostered: 9.8%: Monday night marked a warm welcome back for Waller, who finished with 17.7 FPTS against the Jets. Catching three balls on 27 yards with a pair of touchdowns, Waller looked like his 2019-20 self. Watching him, something that gave me confidence to put him on this list, other than Tyreek Hill being out for the rest of the season, is that the speed off the line and his ability to separate from defenders is still there in his 6 feet 6 inches frame. He will now most likely get more targets in this offense. I believe he could get a similar role in the offense like Jonnu Smith had last season.   

4. Brenton Strange (JAX) - Tight End; Rostered: 22.6%: It was another day in the office for Strange, who once again was one of the top targeted receivers (7) on the Jaguars offense. Four weeks in, Strange leads the team in receptions (19), yards (182) and is second in targets (23) behind Brian Thomas Jr. (32) and ahead of Travis Hunter (21). He is clearly one of Trevor Lawrence's go-to guys in an offense that has plenty of mouths to feed. If you're in need of a tight end, Strange is a viable option.  

5. Emanuel Wilson (GB) - Running Back; Rostered: 0.6%: Wilson can be inlined for a big role in the Green Bay offense, who could be without their starter Josh Jacobs with an apparent knee injury that he suffered against the Cowboys. Stepping in for Jacobs, Wilson fulfilled the duties in the backfield and rushed for 44 yards on eight attempts. He also displayed his pass catching abilities, hauling in three passes for 37 yards, including a 25-yard screen pass in the first quarter. The Packers have a bye this week and it may give Jacobs time to heal from his injury, but Wilson has given the team some comfort that he can step up if his number is called if Jacobs were to miss time.  

6. Elic Ayomanor (TEN) - Wide Receiver; Rostered: 31.1%: I had Ayomanor on my waiver wire list last week and I'm not completely shocked that he still qualifies to be featured this week. Fully aware that he plays for arguably the worst team in the league, it shouldn't be ignored the production he's been getting four weeks in. Ayomanor leads the Titans in receptions (12), targets (25), yards (151) and touchdowns (2). He hasn't had an electrifying performance yet, but it's bound to happen sometime. Managing at least five targets every game thus far, Ayomanor needs to be added. 

7. Romeo Doubs (GB) - Wide Receiver; Rostered: 36.7%: Doubs has been the beneficiary in production since the absence of Jayden Reed. He played a key role for the Packers in Week 4 against Dallas, throwing up a hat trick in touchdowns and catching six of eight targets for 58 yards. He has recorded two games of over 50 yards receiving, but some concerns hanging over if he can continue his momentum moving forward in a Matt LaFleur offense that likes to use Jacobs and a plethora of receivers. Doubs warrants strong consideration with Reed not in the lineup.  

8. Jaxson Dart (NYG) - Quarterback; Rostered: 21.1%: What a debut game it was for Dart, who not only knocked off the undefeated Chargers, but looked the part at the position. Finishing with 19.84 FPTS, Dart threw for 111 yards with a touchdown, but he also showcased his legs, picking up 54 yards on the ground with a touchdown on 10 attempts. I do have concerns if he can reach a higher ceiling without star receiver Malik Nabers, who will be out for the remainder of the season with a torn ACL. He does still have rookie Cam Skattebo at running back paired with wide receiver Wan'Dale Robinson and tight end Theo Johnson at his disposal. 

9. Kendre Miller (NO) - Running Back; Rostered: 5.6%: First and foremost, I am not saying that you should be concerned about Alvin Kamara and his role with the Saints. However, it needs to be highlighted that Miller did finish with 12.5 FPTS in Week 4 against the Bills. Miller finished with a season high 11 carries for 65 yards and a touchdown. He finished with four less carries than Kamara (15), but since Week 1, Miller has seen increase in touches and has flirted with fantasy relevancy since last season when Kamara missed time. If he were to miss time again this season, Miller would be primed for a reasonable role in the offense that lacks in a lot of areas.    

10. Tyjae Spears (TEN) - Running Back; Rostered: 27.9%: With the news of the Titans expecting to open his 21-day practice window this week, fantasy managers should do a courtesy search to see if Spears is available. Spears has shown that he can hold value in fantasy, finishing with 27.2, 21.6 and 13.3 FPTS during the final three games last season. With Tony Pollard, Spears' pass catching threat will eat into Pollard's already lacking success in fantasy. If he does suit up for Week 5, Spears will take on the Cardinals that have allowed the eighth-most FPTS (24.37) to running backs this season.    

11. Blake Corum (LAR) - Running Back; Rostered: 18.6%: Similar to Kamara, I do not think Kyren Williams' job is endangered. However, Corum is an interesting back that has seen an increase in production since the start of the season. Head coach Sean McVay likes to throw in a couple of drives featuring Corum, who has seen most of his success in the red zone. Even if Corum doesn't have fantasy importance at this moment, it is wise to cuff him and stash on your roster if Williams were to miss time. 

12. Jalen Coker (CAR) - Wide Receiver; Rostered: 7.8%: Coker is eligible to return to practice this week for the Panthers after being placed on the IR with a quadriceps injury. However, it has been reported that he is still considered week-to-week even though he has progressed, but it's expected that he could miss four-to-six games. When he does return, he will enter a Panthers wide-out room that is in desperate need of another playmaker besides rookie Tetairoa McMillan.  

13. Bryce Young (CAR) - Quarterback; Rostered: 9.9%: While it isn't all on him, it is fair to say that Young has had a brutal start in 2025 after an impressive finish to last season. This week, he has a great chance to rebound against the Miami Dolphins, who are atrocious on defense. Against quarterbacks this season, Miami has given up the second-most FPTS (26.49), the third-most rushing yards (163) and the most rushing touchdowns (4) to quarterbacks. Only consider streaming him this week.  

14. Arizona Cardinals Defense vs. Tennessee Titans - Rostered: 24.6%: If you need a defense to stream this week, my first choice would be to pick up the Cardinals defense, playing the Titans, who can not protect their young rookie quarterback. The Titans have given up the second-most sacks (17) and have turned the ball over five times, while giving up a defensive touchdown. Opposing defenses have averaged 12.25 FPTS per-game against the Titans offense. 

15. Cleveland Browns Defense vs. Minnesota Vikings - Rostered: 3.6%: The Browns defense is a great option this week against the Vikings, who just allowed Carson Wentz to get sacked six times in Week 4 against the Steelers. Opposing defenses have averaged fourth-most FPTS against the Vikings offense. With a battered O-line, Minnesota has given up the most sacks (18) in the league and turned the ball over seven times, including five interceptions. It may seem intimidating to go against Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison and Jordan Mason, but the Browns have an equally talented unit that can matchup against the Vikings top skill guys.